You grimace as you ignore the biting cold and the painful grip you maintained on your gun. Your right hand shakes with adrenaline as you held the pistol, still aiming it at the fallen man. You hadn't expected him to pull a knife on you, but you were able to bring your arm up in time to defend yourself. Slowly trudging through the snow, you approach cautiously to inspect him. You had intended to scare him off with the gun, but between holding back his knife arm and struggling to keep the pistol out of his other hand, the pistol had discharged. You grimace; the man had been shot in the head. As the screeching wind distracts you from the gruesome scene, you quickly take the keyring on his belt and turn to the white utility van. Your hunch had been right, this man was a slaver.

Shielding your eyes from the falling snow, you fumble through the snow while holding onto the front of your coat. The sheer cold was beginning to make your arms uncontrollably shiver, but you could ignore it for a little while longer. Wading around to the back of the van, you look down at your hands while you stumble with the keys to find one that opens the van. Finally, the third key fits and you quickly throw open the doors. You let out a breath, the elves were still okay. You look up and spot a small light elf with a blonde ponytail looking down at you, her bright blue eyes staring back at you with fear. You smile weakly and hold up the keys in your shaking right hand.

"We're free?" The little light elf girl looks like she's about to burst into tears of joy. You nod your head yes and try to give the best reassuring smile you can manage with your jaw shivering uncontrollably. A pair of gloved hands appear behind the girl's shoulders, they grip her as the taller, curvier, dark elf appears behind her.

"It is safe? We should be free to leave this van?" The dark elf asks while her stoic face breaks into a tiny smile of joy as you nod. "Excellent," she says simply while hopping out of the van and taking the light elf girl by the hand.

The van had two benches running the length on either side of the interior of the vehicle. You help the light elf and dark elf out into the snow, but their leather shoes are hardly fit for the weather and their coats don't seem very warm. "Here, follow me, my cabin isn't too far from here!" you say while taking the light elf girl's other hand. The two of them huddle closely to you, struggling to trudge through the deep snow. The light elf was beginning to struggle as her small body was beginning to shiver more and more. You grit your teeth, trying your hardest to keep yourself calm, but the girls could freeze to death in this snow. Luckily, the dark elf girl picks up her friend and throws her over her shoulder, able to keep pace with you. "There! See that wooden structure through the snow!?" You point forward, a little over 100 meters from your cabin. The dark elf girl nods and adjusts the little light elf in her arms while struggling to walk in step with you.

Finally, after several minutesm you get inside the door with the elves, quickly closing it behind you.

The little light elf shivers and smiles, tears beginning to stream from her eyes in the sudden warmth of the cabin. You walk forward and embrace her while pulling the two of them away from the door. "Alright, with the heater on, we're safe. If you two want to rest in bed, I'll make everyone a hot meal," you offer with a friendly smile while turning your back and beginning to walk away, only to hear footsteps quickly approach from behind.

The little light elf girl immediately latches onto you from behind in a hug. You can't help but notice that she's almost in tears. "Please, stay! Thank you so much! You saved me! I didn't want to be taken away!" You gently pat her back. Her voice was cracking as she thanked you profusely. You nod with a smile and slowly walk to the kitchen, trying not to jostle her too much as she hugged your back tightly. The dark elf walks to your side and follows, smiling gently as the little light elf calms down and smiles happily to herself. The dark elf also wraps her arm around you to give thanks for saving the both of them. "I am not very good with words, so this will have to do. My name is Katyia. Thank you so much for helping Nala and I. Is there any way we can repay you?" the dark elf asks with a stoic voice, but with a small smile.